Downingtown schools' adopt laptop purchase policy

EAST CALN – Downingtown Area School Board members approved a policy to offer financial assistance to students buying computers for school.

The policy will establish the terms and conditions for eligibility of financial aid for students wishing to purchase laptops through the district.

Financial assistance for the purchase of a laptop, notebook, or tablet computer can only be given to ninth-, 10th-, or 11th-grade students. Also, the aid can be given to a student once in their career with the district. Aid will only be given to students who would otherwise buy a computer from the district for their exclusive full-time use, such as with students of the technology-oriented S.T.E.M. Academy.

The district will provide 20 percent of the purchase price of a computer, or $200, whichever is less, as financial aid.

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The policy was passed in a 7-1 vote, with board member Robert Yorczyk dissenting, and member Jane Bertone absent.

Yorczyk said that his decision to vote against the policy stemmed from his concern over the district’s use of funds with the policy.

“I don’t think this is a proper use of our money and I don’t support this policy,” said Yorczyk. “What bothers me about this is that we are subsidizing purchased computers for people who are able to afford them.”

However, Superintendent Lawrence Mussoline and board member Suzanne Simonelli said that the district’s funds would be used to purchase computers regardless of whether or not the policy is approved.

“We’re using public money now to spend the full price on computers and those computers are turning into dust,” said Mussoline. “So you’re spending $1,000 of public money, you’re not recouping any of it back. What this allows is the ability for someone to repurchase the computer at a little bit of a reduced cost to them, and the district is not out $1,000.”

The policy is part of the board’s initiative to gradually replace textbooks with e-books and similar learning tools that students would be able to access with electronic devices.

According to board President Jacqueline Fenn, this policy will begin the process of getting devices into students’ hands for use at school, whether they choose to bring their own through the district’s recently approved Bring Your Own Device initiative, or through buying a device with financial aid or directly from the district.

Fenn also said that families will have a variety of devices, and therefore prices, from which to choose from should they decide to purchase a device through the district.

The district’s Bring Your Own Device initiative encourages students to bring laptops, notebooks, tablets, or iPads to classes as part of their education tools, which teachers would take note of.

About the Author

Sara Mosqueda-Fernandez os the Daily Local News' reporter that covers all things Downingtown and its local school district. A transplant to Chester County, she also keeps an eye on environmental issues in the area. Reach the author at smfernandez@dailylocal.com
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